Services
GlassCell Isofab Inc. has a new Service called TEMA (Thermographic Energy Maintenance Audit) to offer its customers.
- Identifies energy losses from un-insulated or under insulated piping and equipment, and damaged insulation systems where thermal performance is questionable.
- Identifies opportunities in insulated systems to increase thermal efficiency and reduce emissions.
- Analyzes payback for repairs or improved insulation.
- Prioritizes repairs thru preventative maintenance program.
- Provides a global thermal performance picture of a facility.
- Identifies, through actual condition of insulation, a follow-up and re-audit cycle.
- Offers summary or detailed information, according to needs, through a flexible and user friendly computer program.
- Thermography is the use of an infrared imaging and measurement camera to "see" and "measure" thermal energy emitted from an object.
- Thermal or infrared energy is light that is not visible because its wavelength is too long to be detected by the human eye.
It's the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Unlike visible light, in the infrared world, everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits heat. Even very cold objects, like ice cubes, emit infrared. The higher the object's temperature, the greater the IR radiation emitted. Infrared allows us to see what our eyes cannot.
- Infrared thermography cameras produce images of invisible infrared or "heat" radiation and provide precise non-contact temperature measurement capabilities.
- Pre-audit meeting: Interview with energy manager and/or facility manager, to define mandate and gather necessary and pertinent information for an energy analysis. Appraiser will also want to consult plant lay-out drawings and process and instrumentation drawings.
- Facility walk-through during which appraiser will identify, measure and note condition of piping, ducts and equipment, insulated or not.
- Thermographic analysis to identify heat losses with precision and define corrective actions.
- Once information has been gathered, appraiser will enter data into the TEMA program (heat loss/gain and greenhouse gas emissions calculations such as CO2, NOX and carbon equivalents, are calculated using 3E+ program developed by North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA)).
- When all calculations are completed, a comprehensive made to measure report containing the following elements will be prepared:
- Energy savings based on your actual system and potential savings resulting from upgrading insulation thickness.
- Environmental impact resulting from reduction of energy consumption.
- Energy gain or loss from uninsulated surfaces.
- Energy gain or loss from insulated surfaces
- Energy gain or loss from piping or equipment if insulated in the most effective manner while economically viable.
- Priorities in setting up a work schedule for part or total installation.
- Summary or total budget estimate for completion of work.
- Re-audit schedule based on equipment condition.
- Pipe & equipment dimensions and locations
- Geometry of piping and equipment
- Types of insulation
- Insulation Jacketing
- Piping and equipment base material
- Ambient temperature
- Wind speed
- Relative humidity
- Annual hours of operation
- Scheduled shutdowns
- Different insulation thicknesses
- Energy source
- Energy efficiency of each unit
- Types of fuel
- Cost of fuel
- Actual insulation thickness
- Process and instrumentation drawing
- Insulation specifications
- Winterization
- Personnel protection
GlassCell Isofab Inc. auditors are certified professionals who have received extensive training through the fully accredited Insulation Energy Appraisal program sponsored by National Insulation Association and endorsed by Thermal Insulation Association of Canada. They have an extensive insulation background and use the latest thermographic technology.
They will also assist you in identifying energy providers in your area who offer incentive programs and can help in preparing your application to offset your audit cost. GlassCell Isofab Inc. has a total of 8 branch offices located throughout Ontario and Quebec capable of servicing all your energy auditing and insulation requirements. In other areas we partner with other insulation experts to provide similar services.
The Government of Canada, through the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC), has been working with industry to promote energy-efficient industrial practises. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has financial incentives to help companies identify ways to increase energy efficiency, improve production processes and cut costs.
The Industrial Energy Audit Incentive is designed to help defray the cost of hiring a professional energy auditor to conduct an on-site audit and covers up to 50 percent of the cost of an energy audit up to a maximum of $5000. Most local energy suppliers also have incentive programs available to offset the customer's cost for an audit, survey or study.These programs usually allow co-funding with NRCan programs resulting in a shared contribution of 1/3 of the cost by all parties to a maximum of $5000 each from NRCan and local utilities.
Upon completion of analysis, a certified GlassCell Isofab appraiser will present the energy and/or facility manager a complete report made to measure to customer's needs. All results, economical and environmental will be carefully explained at this time. The appraiser will identify certain recommendations based on analysis results and discuss potential paybacks resulting from improved insulation.
The three main reasons for setting up a preventive maintenance program are: cost reduction, cost reduction and cost reduction.
- More and more, plant managers have to be creative in order to meet high financial goals, by reducing labour costs, which usually translates to job losses and increased workloads.
- They also have to reduce equipment replacement costs, by optimizing their efficiency and life expectancy without over loading them.
- Finally, they must reduce costs linked to downtimes, emergencies and mechanical failures.
The current troubling energy challenge is linked to a number of factors including:
- The global geopolitical environment
- Fear of terrorist attacks against petroleum industry installations
- Doubt about estimates of oil and gas reserves
- Emergence of China as an industrialized country
- Increasing demand
All of these factors put tremendous pressure on prices of all forms of energy. Since the first oil crisis, in the 70's,we have never seen so much instability in energy prices.
Energy is the corner stone of industrialized countries economy. We have seen energy prices have a significant impact on manufacturing, transportation and distribution costs of consumer goods, and by the same token on our financial capacity as consumers.
Paradoxically to the increasing demand, international initiatives, such as the Kyoto protocol, require that industrialized countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, by reducing their energy consumption. Good management of energy consumption will allow a company to reduce its manufacturing costs, remain competitive and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
Insulation, a recognized but yet under utilized technology, allows us to save energy and the related costs while minimizing the environmental impact.
From an economic standpoint, insulating is simply good common sense.A well designed and installed insulation system will provide, in most cases, based on energy savings, an immediate return on investment and will continue to pay dividends while it remains in place.
It is possible to quickly reduce operating costs by improving energy efficiency of piping systems and equipment. Installing, improving and/or repairing insulation will lead to reduced costs by using less energy as well as increasing process capacity and equipment life expectancy.